Solomon on Leadership 1: The Faith of a Child Mar 02 2010

"Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties." - 1 Kings 3:7

Think back to the time when you finally got out of the military or college, and you were taking that first job. Or maybe it was when you had your first child, and all the sudden you realized you had to act like an adult. I'll never forget those feelings when I finished college, moved to Augusta, and took a job in corporate America. This was before Anne and I got married, and years before I went into the ministry. For several weeks, I'd wake up in the morning, and think, "You know, I'm supposed to be an adult, but I feel like a kid." I was scared to death.

That's what Solomon felt like when he unexpectedly and suddenly became the King of all Israel. He felt overwhelmed, yet he had all this responsibility. He was called to lead a great nation that began with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph - a nation with extraordinary, godly leaders like Moses and Joshua, and even his own father, David. Solomon reflected on all of this, and said, "I feel like a little child." Now think about that for a minute. Children are utterly dependent on their parents. So Solomon, since his earthly father had died, spoke to his Heavenly Father (since his earthly father had died), all he could say was, "I feel as a little child." He expressed an utter dependence on his Heavenly Father. Now, that is not a bad place for a king to begin. And it's not a bad place for all of us to be, either. Approach your life as a little child, completely dependent on your Father. He will provide; He will never disappoint. With the faith of a child, we can live like mature adults.

Share Email